21 Days of Christmas | Celebrate with… RWD, superyacht designers

Share

Share

For superyacht design studio RWD, there is nowhere quite like Beaulieu at Christmas. Justin Redman, director and co-founder at RWD shares some of the festive traditions and treats that make the season so special in its Hampshire hamlet.

RWD may design some of the world’s most extraordinary superyachts, but you’ll find this British studio happily tucked away in one of England’s most picturesque villages. Beaulieu is beautiful all year round, but there is something particularly wonderful about it at Christmas time. The village twinkles with lights, smoke billows from old stone chimneys and wellies crunch on frosty trails. Justin Redman, director and co-founder of the studio shares some of what makes the season so special for RWD.

Seasonal studio

If you visit the studio in December – as we encourage our clients to do – you’ll find the team very much in the spirit of the season. From fairy lights adorning each of our unique buildings (a restored mill, a reclaimed jam factory and an old fire house) to yacht designers (often in Christmas jumpers) hard at work on international yacht projects, and lovely local Christmas trees from the local garden centre.

Christmas traditions

Every year, RWD joins the rest of Beaulieu in celebrating the start of the season by attending the opening of the annual Victorian Christmas event at Palace House. The historic family home of Lord Montagu, which dates back to the 13th century, welcomes visitors to see what a Victorian Christmas would have been like throughout December with festive mulled wine, log fires, carol singing and chestnut stalls. This year, the estate is also hosting a one-mile magical light trail called Christmas at Beaulieu, that winds its way through the grounds.

Beautiful Beaulieu

The village is extremely picturesque at Christmas, particularly when it snows. Christmas trees line the high street and shop windows tempt shoppers with their displays. You can usually find some unique gifts in the stores here.

The winter wilderness

The wilderness of the New Forest is a truly inspiring place, and this is especially true in winter. The surrounding landscape is rich and varied: acres of fields and ancient woodland, icy streams and beautiful views everywhere you look, wild ponies grazing on heather-covered heaths. Buffeted by winter winds, the RWD team make the most of it, from running along the frost covered river bank early in the morning to walking the dogs at lunchtime, brushing away frozen spiderwebs as the mist rises from the heathland.

Festive feasting

We are lucky in Beaulieu – the New Forest boasts some world-class restaurants and really characterful traditional old pubs. We love Lime Wood, a beautiful old hunting lodge, with its farm-to-table food and cozy atmosphere. We normally hold our Christmas party here. There is also The Pig, sister hotel to Lime Wood and another old hunting lodge, which is full of cozy nooks with big comfortable chairs and roaring fires. You can’t go wrong with an old pub to warm up after a long walk. The Sett in Brockenhurst and The Royal Oak in Fritham are charming and unpretentious and a warm welcome will always accompany your local ale.

Enjoy the journey

Our mantra at RWD is “enjoy the journey” and it runs through all that we do, from the yacht design process itself to clients experiencing this inspiring part of England. We invite you to visit for yourself see why there is nowhere quite like it at this time of year.

thewalpole.co.uk uses cookies to offer you the best experience online. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies. If you would like to know more about cookies and how to manage them please view our privacy & cookie policy.